$269

Top price of an artificial Christmas tree at Home Depot, where fake firs, specious spruces, and the like range from $79.97 to $269; at Lowe's, the artificial trees are $38 to $298.

Given those prices, more Americans are turning to real trees this year, according to this report from Bloomberg.com. At Home Depot, cut trees start as low as $9.97 and run to $100; at Lowe's, they range from $15.97 to $178.

The best move might be to buy a live tree—one that comes with balled-and-burlapped roots—and replant it after the holidays. Check out "Tip of the Day: Picking—and Replanting—a Christmas Tree" for details on how to buy a tree and replant it later. And read about the National Christmas Tree, recently lighted in Washington, D.C.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Stay safe this season by avoiding these holiday follies and check out our Holiday Shopping Guide for the latest seasonal news.